Deck 11: Congress

Question 1

Source: Authors' calculation of data from Keith Poole,"The Polarization of Congressional
Parties," Voteview,January 30,2016.

-Based on the graph,which of the following statements is true?

A)The Senate is currently more polarized than the House of Representatives.
B)Both chambers are less polarized than they were fifty years ago.
C)The House is often more polarized than the Senate.
D)The House has become less polarized and the Senate more polarized over time.-Consider This: Both houses have grown more polarized over time,and the extent of the parties' polarization has grown more in the Senate than the House.

Answer 1

The House is often more polarized than the Senate.

Question 2

Source: Authors' calculation of data from Keith Poole,"The Polarization of Congressional
Parties," Voteview,January 30,2016.

-What best represents the trend of party polarization over the last three decades?

A)The parties have become less polarized because more and more voters are opting to become independents.
B)Both Republicans and Democrats have become more liberal.-Consider This: Republicans have become more conservative and Democrats more liberal.
C)While members of Congress have not become more extreme,ordinary citizens have.
D)Each congressional party has become more homogeneous,and the distance between parties has increased.

Answer 2

Each congressional party has become more homogeneous,and the distance between parties has increased.

Question 3

What type of legislature did the Constitutional Convention create?

A)bicameral
B)direct
C)unified
D)unicameral -Consider This: A unicameral legislature means a one house or branch legislature.We have more than one branch of our legislature.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

How can a filibuster can be ended?

A)abrogation supported by fifty-one senators
B)censure voted on by fifty-five senators -Consider This: To censure means to officially rebuke a member of Congress for their behavior and that only takes a simple majority.
C)cloture approved by sixty senators
D)discharge voted on by sixty-seven senators

Question 5

The incumbency factor in congressional elections Source: Data compiled by the authors.Figures reflect incumbents running in both primary and general elections.

-Which of the following,which might include federal spending projects,might contribute to the trend indicated in the graph?

A)apportionment
B)casework
C)the pork barrel
D)logrolling -Consider This: This is when members of Congress help each other by voting for each other's legislation.This has nothing to do with re-election.

Question 6

As advocated by English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke,which concept describes legislators as people who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people?

A)delegates -Consider This: A delegate is a member of Congress who bases their decision on public opinion or what they think the people want.
B)trustees
C)partisans
D)politicos

Question 7

Questions 5 and 6 refer to the following image. Credit: Scott J.Applewhite/AP Images
What is the pictured group of members of Congress who share some interest or characteristic and common goals?

A)caucus
B)colloquium
C)committee -Consider This: A congressional committee's job is to process legislation.
D)conference

Question 8

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following graph.
The incumbency factor in congressional elections Source: Data compiled by the authors.Figures reflect incumbents running in both primary and general
elections.
Based on the graph,which statement about incumbency is most accurate?

A)Incumbents have a significant reelection advantage.
B)Incumbents are prohibited from accepting campaign contributions from interest group members.-Consider This: This is just the opposite.They are more likely to receive campaign contributions.
C)Incumbents only leave office when pressured by party leadership.
D)Incumbents often leave office at the end of their term.

Question 9

Which of the following is a difference between members of Congress and the general population?

A)They are less partisan.-Consider This: Congress is highly partisan and becoming more so.
B)They are less well paid.
C)They tend to be happier.
D)They are generally wealthier.

Question 10

Questions 9 and 10 refer to the following image. Credit: J.B.Handelsman/The Cartoon Bank
Which of the following is the cartoonist's main argument?

A)Congressmen have a diverse set of interests to represent.
B)Interest groups play too big a role in policy making.
C)Interest groups only represent controversial issues.
C)More lobbyists have been elected to Congress than ever before.-Consider This: The cartoonist was addressing lobbyists' influence,not their literal presence,in Congress.

Question 11

“Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall… proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law…. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it…”
--Article I, Section 7, U.S. Constitution, 1787

-How does Article I,Section 7 exemplify the concept of checks and balances?

A)Congress does not need to involve other branches in lawmaking.-Consider This: Though Congress can override a presidential veto,Congress cannot pass laws without input from the executive branch.
B)States,through their congressional representatives,are involved in lawmaking.
C)The Constitution mandates that Congress establish committees.
D)No one branch is single handedly in control of making laws for the country.

Question 12

What is a good example of congressional casework?

A)Analysis of an incumbent's policy positions prior to a debate
B)Analysis of water quality within a district -Consider This: This is something that would be done by a federal agency,not a member of Congress.
C)Helping a constituent with the Veterans Administration
D)Giving political speeches at a political party

Question 13

Questions 3 and 4 refer to the following graph.
Should we impose term limits on members of Congress? Sources: Turnover data from Ballotpedia,"State Legislative Incumbent Turnover in 2014";
proxy for state legislative district voting-eligible population turnout rate data from U.S.
Census Bureau estimates citizen voting-age population; election competitiveness data from
Ballotpedia,"Comparing the Competitiveness Index for State Legislative Elections."
Based on the graph,how might federal term limits affect the makeup of Congress?

A)Election turn out is higher with term limits.-Consider This: The turnout rate was almost equal,but slightly higher in states without term limits in 2012.
B)Candidates face more opposition when there are term limits.
C)People have more faith in first time candidates.
D)There are more open seat elections with there are no term limits.

Question 14

How might the pork barrel aid a congressional member's district?

A)diverting unallocated funds to another government agency
B)increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects
C)increasing revenue through private market investment -Consider This: The government normally does not make investments in the private market.That is done by banks and other financial institutions.
D)taxing corporations less so they provide health insurance for employees

Question 15

Credit: J.B.Handelsman/The Cartoon Bank

-Why is Congress fairly open to interest group influence?

A)it is professionalized -Consider This: If it was more professionalized that would make Congress less susceptible to interest group influence.
B)it is complex
C)it is decentralized
D)it is hierarchical

Question 16

What function do whips serve?

A)to act as official spokespersons for their chambers -Consider This: The spokesperson of the House is the Speaker and the spokesperson for Senate is the majority leader.
B)to help the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate
C)to meet with members of the executive cabinet
D)to persuade party members to support the party's priorities

Question 17

Who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House in the House of Representative?

A)majority leader
B)majority whip -Consider This: The majority whip is third in command in the House,not the second.
C)minority leader
D)president pro tempore

Question 18

“Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall… proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law…. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it…”
--Article I, Section 7, U.S. Constitution, 1787

-Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between Congress and the President?

A)The President has historically been able to direct Congress to pass certain laws.
B)The President has the final word on which bills Congress considers.-Consider This: The President has the power to veto laws,but he or she is not responsible for which bills Congress debates and considers.
C)If something is important to the President it is always also important to Congress.
D)Presidents are most successful as facilitators,rather than directors,in lawmaking.

Question 19

Should we impose term limits on members of Congress? Sources: Turnover data from Ballotpedia,"State Legislative Incumbent Turnover in 2014";
proxy for state legislative district voting-eligible population turnout rate data from U.S.
Census Bureau estimates citizen voting-age population; election competitiveness data from
Ballotpedia,"Comparing the Competitiveness Index for State Legislative Elections."

-Which of the following statements might be made by a critic of term limits?

A)Incumbents begin to take their reelection for granted.
B)Less experienced legislators are not jaded by gridlock in Congress.-Consider This: Critics of term limits believe that more experienced legislators are able to do their jobs better.
C)Legislators with limited time in office won't seek to gain institutional knowledge.
D)Representatives are better able to represent their districts after several years.

Question 20

Credit: Scott J.Applewhite/AP Images

-Which of the following statements about caucuses is most accurate?

A)They are often made up of members of one political party.
B)It is rare for people with a common interest to form a caucus.-Consider This: Caucuses reflect important common interests among legislators.
C)As interest groups within Congress they have power over legislation.
D)They only take campaign contributions from individuals like themselves.

Question 21

In the 2011-2012 election cycle,how much money did the average winning House candidate spend?

A)$1.6 million
B)$23 million
C)$200 million
D)$1 billion -Consider This: This is closer to the amount that is spent by all candidates in any given election cycle.

Question 22

Which incumbency advantage involves efforts to highlight an incumbent's service to individuals and to the district?

A)visibility
B)credit claiming
C)lobbying
D)position taking -Consider This: All candidates highlight their positions on the issues and this does not involve service to the district or individuals.

Question 23

Of the following groups,which is most underrepresented in Congress?

A)African Americans
B)whites -Consider This: Whites are over represented in Congress.
C)Hispanics
D)women

Question 24

Where does most of Congress's work happen?

A)recess -Consider This: The term recess means that Congress is not working and is taking a break.
B)committees
C)conferences
D)hearings

Question 25

How have parties changed internally as they have become more polarized?

A)more libertarian
B)more diverse -Consider This: The differences within in the parties has become smaller not larger so they have become less diverse.
C)less collegial
D)more homogeneous

Question 26

Which committee is created to reconcile differences in versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate?

A)arbitration
B)conference
C)standing
D)appropriations -Consider This: This committee processes spending legislation and does not involve reconciling House and Senate bill differences.

Question 27

Why might incumbents want to deemphasize their policy positions during a reelection campaign?

A)Voters do not like feeling patronized by discussing policies they are already fully aware of.
B)Stressing policy positions can make enemies as well as friends.
C)Stressing policy positions makes voters more uncertain about where the candidate stands on important issues.
D)Having clear policy positions makes it harder to attract campaign contributions from interest groups.-Consider This: Actually,having clear policy positions if they match that of an interest group makes it easier to attract money from the group.

Question 28

Which of the following makes economic projections about the performance of the economy,the costs of proposed policies,and the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives?

A)Congressional Budget Office
B)Congressional Research Service
C)House Ways and Means Committee -Consider This: This is the House committee responsible for evaluating tax legislation.
D)Senate Banking Committee

Question 29

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency?

A)A legislator uses his or her best judgment.
B)A legislator does whatever is best for his or her reelection.
C)A legislator follows the public opinion of his or her constituency.-Consider This: This would be what a delegate does.
D)A legislator does what is in the best interest of his or her party.

Question 30

When does a bill go to the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives?

A)after it goes to a conference committee
B)after it is approved by its full committee
C)after it is debated in the full House
D)before it is amended or rewritten in its full committee -Consider This: Subcommittee consideration is what precedes full committee consideration.

Question 31

What have reformers proposed to increase turnover in the membership of Congress?

A)term limits
B)credit claiming
C)franking privileges -Consider This: Franking is the privilege of members of Congress to send mail at government expense.This has nothing to do with member turnover.
D)incumbency

Question 32

What is substantive representation?

A)representing groups that provide subsistence for their campaign coffers and not for their policy preferences
B)representing the interests of groups of which they themselves are not members
C)representing people and interests that they like personally by voting for legislation that benefits those people
D)representing constituents by mirroring their personal,politically relevant characteristics -Consider This: Congress does not mirror most citizens as they are less diverse demographically than the general population.

Question 33

What is defined as the activities that help individual constituents,particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape?

A)Gains from trade
B)Casework
C)Logrolling
D)The pork barrel -Consider This: These are spending projects that create jobs and thus help members of Congress get re-elected.This has nothing to do with cutting re-tape.

Question 34

Who is the only House official mandated by the Constitution?

A)majority leader -Consider This: This position is not mandated by the Constitution and is an elected position within each branch of Congress.
B)majority whip
C)Sergeant-at-Arms
D)Speaker of the House

Question 35

What type of legislation do party leaders from the two chambers of Congress sometimes use to address numerous and perhaps unrelated issues to create winning coalitions and force members to support the entire bill to obtain the individual parts?

A)ad hoc
B)conference -Consider This: The term conference refers to temporary committees that resolve differences in bills between the two branches.
C)orthodox
D)omnibus

Question 36

When is lobbying more likely to be successful?

A)when lobbying against change
B)when lobbying for an environmental group -Consider This: Lobbying by environmental interest groups tends to be less successful than other groups like labor and industry.
C)immediately before an election
D)immediately after an election

Question 37

What is the vice president's only constitutionally defined job?

A)to look after the "Good and the Welfare of We the People"
B)to represent the president at official state functions
C)to preside over the Electoral College -Consider This: The Electoral College does not have a presiding officer as the electors do not meet in the same location to vote.
D)to serve as president of the Senate

Question 38

Which committees exist in both the House and Senate,may be temporary or permanent,and usually have a specific focus?

A)Ways and means
B)Caucus -Consider This: This is the meeting a member of Congress of the same party that select party leaders.
C)Select
D)Steering

Question 39

Congress missed the fact that various agencies with responsibility for supervising the banking industry were negligent in identifying looming financial problems that led to the recession of 2008-2009.This suggests a failure of __________.

A)the seniority system
B)jurisdiction fragmentation
C)oversight
D)the informal organization of Congress -Consider This: Supervision of federal agencies has nothing to do with the organization of Congress.

Question 40

How are Senate committee chairs generally selected?

A)by voters -Consider This: Chair positions are leadership positions in Congress and are thus selected according to congressional procedures not by the voters.
B)according to seniority
C)according to age
D)according to tact and decorum